One of nature’s most powerful and elusive predators would be reintroduced into the wild in California under a new bill filed in the State Assembly.

For centuries before western settlers arrived – and before the Marvel Cinematic Universe – wolverines were a critical part of California’s ecosystem. Today, they are extremely rare.

A May 2023 sighting in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains was the first since 2018, and, before that, they hadn’t been seen in nearly a century, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Now, California Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) wants to see the agile omnivores, the largest member of the weasel family, make a comeback.

“Our mountains used to be rich with wildlife that is now rare or functionally extinct in our state. Among the endemic species that are now but memories in our wilderness is the wolverine,” said Friedman. “I have introduced AB 2722 with the goal of seeing wolverines returned to our mountain passes.”

Assembly Bill 2722 directs the CDFW to “assess the feasibility of a population reintroduction or supplementation program with the goal of restoring a viable population of wolverines to the state.”

Wolverines are 26 to 41 inches long and can weigh up to 66 pounds. They are known to hunt animals large and small, including voles, squirrels, porcupines, deer, and even moose. 

Their lifespan is typically 12 to 13 years. 

Wolverines are classified as fully protected and threatened under the California Endangered Species Act. They were once abundant in the western United States until, like other predators, they were hunted and trapped to near extinction.

They are now only seen in small numbers in the North Cascades, northern Rockies, and a small area in Oregon, but are more widely distributed in Canada and Alaska.

David Garcelon, president of the Institute for Wildlife Studies, spent 10 years preparing a plan to reintroduce wolverines in California but was unable to obtain the necessary permits to proceed.

He told the Los Angeles Times that he hopes the bill passes but, more importantly, that the reintroduction is successful.

“I really want to give the wolverines a chance,” Garcelon told the Times. “I’m not really in favor of waiting another 50 years to see if they can do it on their own.”